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M. N'.' LOVELL. Step-Ladder 2N0. 224,020. Paten-t'ed, Feb. 3, lss o;

WI NEEEES INVENTEI M 2/44. WM

mj g P R ATTY N, FETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPH UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

MELVIN N. LOVELL, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO F. F. ADAMS & 00., (LIMITED,) OF SAME PLACE.

STEP- LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 224,020, dated February 3, 1880.

Application filed December 13, 1879.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVIN N. LOVELL, of Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and useful Step- Ladder; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to the construction of step-ladders; and it consists in providing new and improved means for opening and closing the props and for retaining the props open.

My device is shown in the accompanying drawings as follows: Figure 1 is a back View of the ladder when folded. Fig. 2 is a verti- I 5 cal section of the ladder when open, and by dotted lines shows the ladder closed.

A A are the stiles. B B, &c., are the steps.

G O are the props. D D are theoross stays or braces of the props, and c c are cross pieces 2 or bars, also connected with the props, the prop proper being composed of the, two upright pieces 0 O, the cross-bars c c, and the two diagonal braces or stays D D. As before stated, my invention relates to 5 the operation of the prop. The means employed is a folding brace, E E F. The part F of this brace is hinged to the inside of the lower step, (or one of the lower steps,) and 'the part E. is hinged to the cross-bar cnear the lower end of the prop, and the two parts are hinged or jointed together at g. The part F has an extension, f, beyond the joint 9, and also an extension, f, beyond the hinge G on the step, which latter projection is long enough to stick out in front of the steps when the ladder is open, as seen in Fig. 2, but is not long enough to come in contact with the floor when the ladder is closed, as seen in both figures.

The extension f of the part F, when the lad- 4 der is closed,'lies against one of the stays D. g

The object of this construction of the brace E F is as follows: The ladder being closed, the operator, desiring to open it, places his toe under the downward -extending part f of the part F and draws it toward him. This 5 causes the extension f to push. against the braces D and shove the prop out, and throws the brace E F into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2. To close the ladder when open, the operator raises the props from the ground by pulling the ladder toward him at the top, and then, with his foot, presses down on the extension f, and thus collapses the brace E F. I adjust the parts of the brace E F in such a manner that when open it drops slightly past 55,

the center at the joint 9, as seen in Fig. 2, and thus prevent all possibility of the props working back to the ladder when it is occupied, as the joint 9 cannot be sprung back while the props are on the ground.

The brace E F may be placed so as to be operated by the hand in place of the foot by hinging it to some of the steps above the lower one; but such a change of position will not effect any change of construction.

What I claim is as follows:

1. In a step-ladder, the jointed brace E F, having an extension beyond the front edge of the step to which it is hinged, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 7o

2. In a step-ladder, the jointed brace E F, having an extension,f, beyond the pivot g, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said MELVIN N. LOVELL, have hereunto set my hand.

MELVIN N. LOVELL,

' Witnesses:

JNo. K. HALLOCK, H. O. YARD. 

